‘Mushroom killer’ pleads not guilty after beef wellington left in-laws dead
Erin Patterson, an Australian woman who allegedly killed three people with a poisonous mushroom lunch, has pleaded not guilty to murder.
Three of the four guests who attended Patterson’s family meal last July – where beef Wellington was served – died shortly afterwards.
In a case that has gripped Australia, Patterson, 49, was charged with three counts of murder and two counts of attempted murder in November.
She is accused of murdering Don and Gail Patterson – the parents of her estranged husband, Simon Patterson – and his aunt Heather Wilkinson.
Police also alleged she tried to kill her Simon on three occasions in 2021 and 2022.
Patterson has long denied wrongdoing.
Appearing at Latrobe Valley Magistrates’ Court via video uplink today, Patterson told magistrate Tim Walsh, ‘Not guilty, your honour,’ eight times.
By pleading not guilty, this means her case will be ‘fast-tracked’ to the Supreme Court.
Not only will this mean the case will be brought before trial sooner but Defence barrister Colin Mandy, SC, said this will skip a committal – a hearing that would have seen the evidence against Patterson tested in public.
There was no reason given at Tuesday’s hearing for Patterson’s decision to fast-track the case.
Magistrate Tim Walsh accepted the application. Patterson will face Victoria’s top court for a directions hearing on May 23.
Patterson hosted the lunch on July 29 at her home in Leongatha, a quiet country town of no more than 6,000 people.
All four guests – including brother-in-law Ian Wilkinson – who attended the luncheon fell ill.
Don and Gail, both 70, and Heather, 66, all died within a week, while Ian, 68, recovered in the hospital by September.
Police suggested at the time the symptoms were consistent with poisoning by death cap mushroom – one of the deadliest mushroom varieties that grow around Victoria and can cause organ failure.
Patterson has long denied wrongdoing.
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